Today's Tea: The Spice Is Right

Organic The Spice Is Right from DAVIDsTEA

Description: Is there any flavour combo more comforting than orange and cinnamon? There’s something about it that’s instantly comforting – like warm spice cake or a glass of hot punch. But nostalgia isn’t the only thing giving you that warm fuzzy feeling. Cinnamon is said to have warming properties, and one sip of this spice-laden green tea is all it takes to get that cozy fireside feeling going. Add some sweet orange peel and a zingy hint of chili pepper, and you’ve got a zesty blend that warms you up from the inside out.


Ingredients: Organic: Cinnamon, green tea**, orange peel, cloves, chili pepper. With natural flavouring.
(**Certified Fair Trade)

Caffeine: 1 (Low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    85°C/185°F 3-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: The Spice Is Right)

Steph's Thoughts:

While I was waiting for The Hubby to be finished at the dentist, I wandered into DT (it didn't take much convincing. I basically went with him JUST so I could visit my favourite store). I wanted something warm and soothing but not something I already have. This is getting harder and harder, since I have a LOT of tea. My TeaGuide today suggested The Spice is Right, which is a green tea. I was a little hesitant because GREEN TEA. BUT. When I smelled it, I KNEW. This was what I wanted. This was what my body was yearning for today.

It smells like cinnamon, but not in a cloying way. They've struck the right balance of ALL the spices and flavours. And they use the GOOD cinnamon, not the cheap powdered stuff that people get at the supermarket. I have tasted the difference between good cinnamon and cheap cinnamon. There is NO comparison - cheap cinnamon is gross. Honestly, people, I cannot overemphasize the importance of good quality spices. It may put a dent in my pocketbook, but I will ALWAYS, from now until I'm dead, spring for the GOOD cinnamon. ANYWAY, this tea uses it.

The first sip made my tastebuds sing in delight, and it made the rest of my body go "Yes. This is goodness, this is home. This is what we need. GIVE US MORE, NOW." I like that it doesn't taste like green tea (though it helps that it was PREPARED CORRECTLY).
Also, the chili pepper adds just the right amount of kick. It's not SPICY at all, just... warming. Heartwarming. :P

It reminds me of applesauce. Not the gross, overblended storebought stuff, but homemade applesauce - the kind made with apples that you've picked yourself, then brought home, peeled (and nommed), cut, cooked, mashed and spiced. It reminds me of being in the kitchen with my mom, of learning family cooking secrets, of spending time with one of my favourite people. It reminds me of holiday baking - mountains of cookies and gingerbread cake, and sharing it with friends, neighbours and family. It evokes memories of snuggling with a mug of tea or apple cider beside my mom and reading, or chatting, or just being in silence. My mother is one of my favourite people in the whole world, and as I grow older, I appreciate her more and more. And this tea reminds me of spending time with her. So really, it's perfect.

Here is me and my mother. She is beautiful. (And she will kill me for posting this publicly)

Also, this tea is sweet enough without sweetener. Don't use it. I don't know if it would taste good with a hint of milk or cream. It's almost like a chai, so I would think yes?

Verdict: Instabuy. Homey, yummy, good quality.... Just go buy it. Your body will thank me.

Today's Tea: Soothing Throat Blend

Soothing Throat Blend from Steeps Tea (The Tea Girl)

Description: This beneficial blend contains licorice, fennel, cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, thyme, marshmallow root, mullein, dried lemon juice, cardamom, black peppercorns, and kurkuma. Created for individual wellness and inspired by the early Hindu concept of Ayurveda, meaning the "teaching of life." Licorice has traditionally been used to treat symptoms of the common cold. It acts as a mild anti-imflammatory and expectorant - also a property of the marshmallow root and mullein. Thyme, ginger and fennel relieve sore throats, bronchial problems, laryngitis, fevers and headaches. While cardamom and kurkuma, otherwise known as tumeric, relieve throat and sinus congestion - as well as making our tea a bright and sunny yellow. This aromatic and warming tea will soothe those scratchy throats - the 'Vicks' of tea!

Ingredients:  Licorice, fennel, cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, thyme, marshmallow root, mullein, dried lemon juice, cardamom, black peppercorns, and kurkuma.

Brewing Instructions: (None provided. Since it's an herbal blend, I'm assuming the following:)
1.5 tsp     98°C/208°F     4-7 min

(From SteepsTea: Soothing Throat Blend)

Steph's Thoughts:
I've been sick lately (again... sigh). We visited a friend last night, and upon hearing my nasal, congested tone, immediately put water on to boil. He pulled this tea out of the freezer (which apparently keeps it better), and brewed me a cup.

I was immediately struck by the licorice aroma. It brings to mind very much the aroma of Licorice Twist, from DAVIDsTEA.

It's a little on the sweeter side, so I don't think a lot of sweetener is necessary. I didn't add any, and I usually like my tea sweet. The licorice and fennel definitely come through, as well as something that I can't put my finger on. Maybe it's the marshmallow root.

I was expecting it to be spicy, with the peppercorns and the ginger, but it's not as spicy as one would expect. That's not a bad thing - spicy tea is not my favourite. It's got the right blend of flavour.

One thing that both Austin and I remarked on was how the tea almost immediately soothes the throat and opens the sinuses. Since my sinuses feel like I have a brick in them, that nearly-immediate clearing of my nasal passages was a welcome relief. Now, if only it worked on EARS.

I think that this tea might become part of my cold regimen, which includes saline rinses (I don't have a neti pot yet, but I'm sure I'll get there in the next 10 years.... I just use saline spray, which really does make a HUGE difference) and a lot of tea! (also, Vicks. Ugh, the Vicks.)

Verdict: I CAN BREAAAAAATHE! A must for your medicine cabinet. It'll make colds flee!

Today's Tea: Mint To Be

Organic Mint To Be from DAVIDsTEA

Description: It’s no secret that some of our best ideas come from our customers. So when you guys asked David for a minty black tea, he knew he had to deliver. He took a rich base of black tea and cool peppermint, and added a creamy hint of coconut. To top it all off, he asked our customers to help him name it. We got tons of amazing name ideas, then everyone voted for their fave. We hope you all love the result as much as we do. Trust us – you and this tea are simply mint to be together.

Ingredients: Organic black tea, peppermint, blue cornflower petals, coconut flakes. With natural flavoring.

Allergens: Coconut

Caffeine: 2 (Medium Caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp     96°C/205°F 4-7 min

(from DAVIDsTEA: Mint To Be)

Steph's Thoughts:
So, I've tried to go into DT several times in the last little while to get a cup of this. However, many things have thwarted my attempts. But today was the day. It was .. hahaha, mint to be.

The dry leaf notes call to mind Read My Lips, which is a black tea with chocolate and mint.

The steeped tea tastes very much of chocolate and mint. It is mintier than Read My Lips, and not quite as bitter. I can't taste the coconut as much. The cornflower petals just add beauty to the tea; I don't know how much flavour they add. But this is REALLY pretty tea. (See picture above!)

It starts to get bitter about the 1 hour mark, so I would recommend keeping the steep time lower. Although, to be fair, most people drink tea well before their tea sits for over an hour so..... (I had things occupying my time and attention. Please don't begrudge me for taking my time!)

The peppermint is very refreshing. I like that it makes my mouth feel clean. And the added chocolate is just a yummy bonus!

Verdict: Thumbs up!! Get this in your mouth.

Today's Tea: Super Ginger

Organic Super Ginger from DAVIDsTEA

Description: The idea came at about 2 in the morning one chilly night. David had a cold. He’d been drinking cup after cup of ginger tea, but there was a problem. His ginger tea had a ton of caffeine. His throat felt great, but he couldn’t get any sleep. Something had to be done. So he decided to create an herbal ginger tea – the spiciest, most comforting tisane he could imagine, with lots of ginger, peppercorns and green rooibos. And, most importantly, zero caffeine. The result? A cold remedy so soothing…you might even say it has superpowers. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Organic: Ginger, certified fair-trade green rooibos, pink peppercorns, black pepper, white pepper, flavouring.

Caffeine: 0 (caffeine free)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    98°C/208°F 4-7 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Super Ginger)

Steph's Thoughts:

Since I'm sick with a sore throat, and I'm a little sick of Cold 911 (soooo muuuuuch Cold 911 this month!!!!), I wanted something a little different.
Even though I was smelling with a very stuffy nose, the ginger cut right through. That's good news.

First sips aren't as strong as I thought. Either I didn't put enough tea in the bag, or my taste buds are sick too. It's also not as spicy as I expected, given ginger and peppercorns. But, at the same time, grateful, because I'm not feeling like spicy right now.Maybe it will taste different when my nose isn't so plugged.

It is nice and soothing for my scratchy throat. I didn't add any sweetener, but I would recommend honey, which is both a sweetener and has antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties (especially raw honey, which DAVIDsTEA also sells!).

I noticed the last few sips were significantly spicier, which could be from lots of steeping, or from a clearer nose. Either way, it's not a terribly bad thing.

Verdict: So far so good. I'm feeling a little better than I did when I started drinking, so we're on the right track!

Today's Tea: Chai on Life

Chai on Life from DAVIDsTEA

Description: What do you reach for when you need a little pick-me-up? Maybe you go for something sweet and satisfying. Or perhaps you prefer the feel-good glow of something super healthy. Lucky for you, this lemongrass-spiked white tea is the best of both worlds. It’s a uniquely fresh and delicate chai, filled with traditional warming spices from Ayurvedic medicine, like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and black pepper. Sweet, smooth and refreshing, this blend is revitalizing, comforting and tasty to boot. (MK Kosher)


Ingredients: White tea, green tea, cinnamon, lemongrass, pineapple, pink peppercorn, coconut chips, ginger black pepper, cloves, cardamom. With natural flavouring

Allergens: Coconut

Caffeine: 1 (Low caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp     84°C/183°F 6-7 min

(from DAVIDsTEA: Chai on Life)


Steph's Thoughts:

Chai on Life is the January tea of the month. I was excited about having a new chai, but was not quite sure about the lemongrass.

My Fabulous TeaGuide said that it's like Exotica, except mellower and with actual TEA in. They have many similar ingredients, only Exotica is an herbal tea, but Chai on Life is a white tea (well, technically a white/green mix).

The first smell was heaven. It smells like fresh cinnamon bark (which is SO DIFFERENT than the ground cinnamon you get in the store. That stuff's crap.), slightly cardamom-y, but not overwhelmingly so. It's a very soothing, happy chai smell. Nom nom chai.

I was a little worried about the lemongrass, but it's not overwhelming at all. In the cup that I tried, I could barely taste the lemongrass, but I know that it's adding vital flavour.
It's a nice smooth chai, mellower in flavour than regular chai, and lacking the slightly bitter aftertaste. The chai spices are very present, but again, not overwhelming. I would say the dominant flavour is cinnamon, but again - the good stuff, rather than the cheap powdered stuff. (The good stuff is SO MUCH BETTER!!!!)

 I could see this pairing very well with some milk.

I have such a hard time expressing myself with this tea, because all I can think is yum yum yum yum yum yum happy tea.

Verdict: I say again, NOM NOM CHAI. (that means it's yummy!)

Today's Tea: Ginseng Oolong

Ginseng Oolong from DAVIDsTEA

Description: At first sight, this ginseng-coated tea looks more like moss-covered pebbles than tea leaves. And it tastes just as wonderfully weird as it looks: rich and crisp with a hint of shea butter and a sweet ginseng flavour that lingers long after each sip. Plus oolong and ginseng are two of Chinese medicine’s favourite ingredients – you’re basically one cup away from being a superhero. Try it “gung fu” style, by steeping the leaves multiple times. Every cup is a completely new experience. (MK Kosher)

Ingredients: Oolong tea from Fujian Province in China, ginseng.

Caffeine: 2 (Medium caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.25 tsp    94°C/201°F 5 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Ginseng Oolong)

Steph's Thoughts:

I can tell right away that I steeped the tea too long. I got carried away with some work stuff and forgot about it.

Initially, I was a little hesitant about the tea, as it doesn't particularly look all that appealing. However, I've learned that you can't judge by appearances. I also have very little experience with oolong.
It's a very earthy tea, with a mild aroma. Its smell evokes a comparison with Chinese green tea.

My first impression was "oh. Bitter mistake." Probably from oversteeping. HOWEVER. The aftertaste that it leaves in your mouth is quite lovely. It has a sweet aftertaste, with honey notes. Crisp is definitely a word I would use to describe this tea; I would say at times it is almost biting. However, it mellows out after you swallow.

The Hubby says it tastes a bit like Genmaicha, without the burnt flavour. He also says that it has a tangy aftertaste, activating his sour tastebuds.

I find that everyone reacts differently to different flavours within the tea.

I would like to try steeping it again (properly), reusing the leaves to see how the flavour changes.

Edited to add: Also, this expands LIKE CRAZY, so make sure that you have a big enough steeper for it. (It's actually kind of frightening to see how much it expands!) I have visions of someone thinking it'll fit in one of those little spoon steepers and then having a teasplosion in the cup!

Verdict: Not bad for a first try. I love the aftertaste.

Today's Tea: Sheng Pu'erh

Sheng Pu'erh from DAVIDsTEA

Description: This dark, mysterious tea is totally unlike anything else in our collection. Also called Green Pu’erh, Sheng Pu’erh is a « living » tea – it continues to mature and improve like an excellent wine. Taste a cup of this young tea today and it will be rich and earthy, with sweet, vegetal mushroom notes. Try it again in a year or two and it will be sweeter and mellower, with a delicious hint of honey. We recommend buying enough to drink this year, then storing some away for a serious treat a few years down the road. If you can wait that long…

Ingredients: Sheng (green) pu’erh.

Caffeine: 2 (Medium Caffeine)

Brewing Instructions: 1.5 tsp     85°C/180°F     2-4 min

(From DAVIDsTEA: Sheng Pu'erh)

Steph's Thoughts:
This is one of the teas that I picked up for Hubby when I went tea shopping. He loves pu'erh tea because of its smoothness. We typically drink flavoured pu'erh, so I thought I'd go for a straight one to compare. I loved the smell of this one. It has an earthy aroma, but not off-putting.

The taste of this tea is slightly indescribable. It is earthy, yes. But there's a hint of green, of some sort of plant-ish... fruity.... It's really hard to pin down. I wouldn't call it mushroom. I'm torn between wanting to add sweetener and wanting to savour it straight. It really doesn't need sweetener, though. It's not bitter like some straight blacks or greens.

When I asked the Hubby about it, he said "Some things aren't meant to be described. I mean, you could describe it if you added things to it. It's not a flavour, it's a feeling I get when I drink it. And that feeling is Mmmmmmm."

Why should you buy this tea? It's smooth, it's yummy, it makes a great cup of tea. It's a tea win!

So....

Verdict: Mmmmmmmmm.